I remember clearly the first time I even heard the term "suicide". I was probably seven or eight years old, if that, and I had been reading a mystery book that I found in the basement of my parents’ house. I got to a word I didn't know and asked my mother what it was. "Suicide," she said, "that is the word for when someone decides that they don’t want to be alive anymore, so they decide to end their own life." "You die?" I asked, totally mystified by the idea of death by anything other than natural causes like old age or some sort of tragic disaster. "Why would someone WANT to die though?" I asked. "It's silly, isn't it?" my mother said, "because things always get better."  Read more

We learned about gratitude and humility - that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean... and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.

Michelle Obama

We often hear parents joking (or partially joking?) that they look forward to the day their last child leaves the home. The day when the last child heads out the door represents the day that the parents can retake some of their pre-child freedoms. They believe they’ll have more time for themselves and be able to pursue their passions again. While this can be the eventual outcome, there is often a transition period that parents aren’t ready for.  If you’re in that stage in your life, here are just a few thoughts to hopefully make the transition smoother.

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In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

Tom Bodett

It’s hard to believe we’re over halfway through summer and it’s time to think about another school year. 

For me, this will be a fun year as my husband and I will be parents of a school-age kid again!  Our youngest is 23, but we’re now new foster parents to a 10 year old. 

If you’re like us and need some tips to get back in the swing and start the school year off right, here are 101 back to school...

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Nelson Mandela

When we first acknowledged the symptoms, my grandmother Jessie, in her late eighties, had food burning on the stove. We all stood in awe realizing that it could have been much worse if the family had not shown up that day. My uncle asked her what was happening and had she realized that she had food burning on the stove.  That is when she said in an angry tone “your father should have been home at lunch.” My uncle’s father, also my grandfather was not coming home that day or any other as he passed away 20 years before. 

After...

I'm sorry, if you were right, I'd agree with you.

-Robin Williams

A typical family? I don’t think that exists. 

Families are more than 2 parents and 2 children sharing a house surrounded by a white picket fence.  Parents aren’t always married and couples don’t always have kids.  Families are grandparents raising children, single parents, foster children, same sex couples, the single person and pet. Today, these are “typical”...

Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.

-Robert Benchley